Angelina Jolie Reveals She Had Preventative Double Mastectomy

| May 14, 2013 - 8:33 am

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Writing for The New York Times Tuesday, Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie revealed to the world that she had a preventative double mastectomy after doctors found she was at high risk of developing breast cancer.

“I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy,” Jolie, 37, wrote. “But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

“I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive,” she continued. “So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition … We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.”

Jolie adds that Pitt was there “for every minute of the surgeries, adding, “We managed to find moments to laugh together.”

She had the surgery in February, and completed follow-ups in April.

Jolie’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died in 2007 after a nearly eight-year battle with cancer.

Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. I thank our medical team for their care and focus. All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family.